Sourcing knitted cut-resistant gloves from China

UK duty on knitted cut-resistant gloves

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6116 covers knitted or crocheted gloves, mittens and mitts. The supplied Chinese-origin lines carry 8% standard duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Coated lines have a conditional 0% suspension for knitted or crocheted gloves impregnated or covered with plastics or rubber. The published work-glove guide explains claiming it with document code 9Y11 until 31 December 2028. Uncoated synthetic-fibre gloves remain at 8%.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal product controls. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur products are banned. Seal products for sale in Great Britain must have a seal catch certificate; confirm with the relevant authority whether the products qualify for trade. CITES controls also appear on the wool, fine animal hair and other textile-material lines. If considering animal-derived yarn or trim from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable controls and documentation before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code from the liner composition, coating material and whether the construction is laminated. A cut-resistance claim does not establish the tariff line. For related protection within the wider heading, see knitted cut-resistant sleeves.

Specify the liner, coating and cut protection

State the liner fibre blend, reinforcing yarn, knitting gauge, finished glove weight, cuff construction and size chart. Specify coating chemistry, palm or fingertip coverage, surface texture and flexibility. Approve grip using the intended dry or oily handling task, and record acceptance criteria against a sealed sample.

For gloves protecting against cuts beyond superficial injury, confirm the PPE category and any type-examination requirements under the applicable conformity route with the relevant authority before CE or UKCA marking. CE marking continues to be recognised in Great Britain. Obtain the exact model's applicable certificate, declaration of conformity and test reports. Agree the cut-performance claim and check that the liner and coating match the tested construction.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 pairs of uncoated synthetic-fibre knitted cut-resistant gloves; FOB value and freight are illustrative. under 6116 93 00 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 8% is £616. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,316, so it is £1,663.20. Import taxes total £2,279.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £616 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Cut evidence: match the model, liner and coating to the certificate and reports; compare the marked cut level with the ISO 13997 test evidence. Visual inspection cannot establish cut resistance.

Liner and fit: measure glove length and palm width against the size chart; check finger length, dropped stitches, exposed reinforcing yarn and cuff recovery.

Coating and grip: compare coverage, weight and texture with the approved sample; check penetration through the liner, bare patches and peeling after flexing.

Marking and packing: check conformity marking, performance claims, size and user information against approved artwork; count pairs by size and carton. Use the inspection guide to organise batch checks.

What goes wrong

Bulk gloves may use a different liner blend or reinforcing yarn from the tested sample. A heavier coating can conceal a thinner liner, while coating penetration makes the glove stiff against the skin. Marked cut levels may be copied from another model, and cuff sizes may not match the finished dimensions.

Keep sealed samples and identify the tested construction in the purchase specification. Resolve yarn, coating or model substitutions before shipment. On arrival, compare gloves from different cartons with the approved sample and investigate mismatched documents before releasing stock.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.